Are You Tough Enough To Adopt? (Part 1)

Just in case you’ve not heard or seen, it takes an incredible toughness to go through the adoption process. Our society likes to believe that those who adopt, simply get the idea, gather up a few hundred dollars and whisk out to their local ‘adoption agency’ or ‘birth person on the street’ to ask, ‘Can we have your baby?” If this is what you’ve thought adoption was about, you’re very wrong. The names...

The Adoption Agency/Parent Relationship and its Ef...

Perhaps it was what somebody said before you started the adoption process. Perhaps it was the response to one of your answers. Maybe it was a personal comment that your social worker shared about parenting choices. Or, it could be an agency’s statement of beliefs or policies which put you on the guard. The fact is, our relationships with adoption professionals can shape how our attachment process will be to our future...

How To Adopt A Child In The United States

In this article, I’ll list the basic steps on how to adopt a child in the United States, either through a private agency/attorney or from the state foster-to-adopt system. To adopt a baby/child from a private agency or attorney, I would suggest the following: 1. Seriously sit down and create a list of what you’re hoping for. Be honest with yourself. Believe me when I say that there are families for every baby. Don’t...

The Cost Of Adoption In The United States

If you’re just starting out on an adoption quest, it can seem VERY overwhelming, indeed! Adoption in the United States isn’t easy or quick. People hoping to adopt need to be well versed in what they’re looking for and what they’ll need to have in an agency, attorney or their foster care service…or any combination of those. Prospective parents first question is usually “how much does adoption cost in the United...

Adoption As A First Option (pt. 1)

I know many couples come to adoption after being involved in fertility treatments. What about those, like myself, who decided to adopt before exploring other options? Tell us about your experience in the comment section. Here’s what some of our adoption forums members had to say; “Years ago I was in a serious relationship with someone who, for political reasons, felt very strongly that he would never want to bring...

Adoption As A First Option (pt. 2)

This post is a continuation of Adoption As A First Option (pt. 1) “Maybe not exactly what your asking, but my dh and I each had bio children from previous relationships. We never even discussed trying for babies with each other, and actually took measures against it. For some reason, both of us felt drawn to adopt older kids for “our” kids.” “We did not try to conceive before we adopted, (or...

Rosie’s Family by Lori Rosove

Popular picture book provides vital advice for interracial and multi-cultural adoptive families. It is an essential tool for adoptive parents and their children for better understanding of adoption. Asia Press, a small press publisher of children’s books, today announced that it will not be re-printing its popular book, “Rosie’s Family; An Adoption Story” after the current run is sold out. This...

Adoption Agency Reviews

One of the members at our adoption forums shared a website where you can post a review (or read what others have said) about the adoption agency you worked with. I would encourage all parents who adopted through an agency to consider sharing your experience with others. It looks like you can post anonymously if you feel more comfortable doing so. Birth parents are also welcomed to leave a review of their experience. I hope to...

10 Things Your Adoption Agency Won’t Tell Yo...

By Michele Marchetti 1. “Want to adopt? You’re on your own.” Adoption may seem an altruistic endeavor, but it’s also a big business and a loosely regulated one. “Nobody’s watching for cheaters,” says Adam Pertman, executive director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute and author of Adoption Nation. Adoption has always been a local, not federal, issue, and statutes governing...

Adoption Agency Fraud

The following information was compiled through various online sources. It covers ways to protect yourself against potential agency fraud. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” — Anonymous Agency Fraud (domestic & international): Get references and contact them. Get references who are at different stages in the process and who have completed adoptions at different times. This is important to...

Helpful Tips For Choosing An Adoption Agency

Choosing an adoption agency can be a mind boggling experience. Forever Parents adoption forum member and pal, Lori Dowd of Best Light Adoption Profile Review shares things to keep in mind while you’re considering which agency to use. Needless to say, this is one of the biggest decisions you face, because you need to go where your child will be. My advice is to follow both your head and your heart. How?First, your...

10 Adoption Profile Tips

One of our adoption forums members, Lori from Best Light Adoption Profile Reviews shares these ten useful tips for anyone putting together their adoption profile. So what makes a profile work? I gathered anecdotal research from birthparents and adoption counselors. While each birthparent comes with a viewpoint as unique as a fingerprint, here are some commonalities I found in what attracts and what doesn’t in a...

Adoption Life Book Ideas

Your childs lifebook is their story. It’s their past, present and future. It’s a record of their life though words, photographs, memorabilia, artwork and more. There is no wrong way to do a lifebook. It’s really more of a concept. If your child is old enough to participate in helping to put together their lifebook, encourage them to do so. It is great way for open up lines of communication about how they...

Adoption Agency Accused of Negligence

Families who hoped to adopt babies from the Marshall Islands accuse the Utah firm of negligence By Kirsten Stewart: The Salt Lake Tribune Nine families who had hoped to adopt Marshallese babies through Legacy International Adoptions are now suing the Utah agency, arguing it lied to them and duped birth mothers into traveling to the United States to relinquish their infants. The adoptions were never finalized, but the...

Questions To Ask An Adoption Agency

If you’re just starting out with your adoption journey and are considering using an agency, this printable might come in handy. Questions to Ask an Adoption Agency Share Tags: adoption agency Related posts The Cost Of Adoption In The United States (6) The Adoption Agency/Parent Relationship and its Effect on Attachment (4) Rosie’s

Complaints about Adoption Services Worldwide

Another couple has come forward, complaining about a San Antonio adoption agency. The husband and wife say they gave Adoption Services Worldwide about $20,000 and got nothing in return. The couple says their only option was to adopt. So, they handed over their life savings. Then two years later and still no baby, the agency called them to say they were closing down. They didn’t get their money back. “You have...